There was a following statement in Time magazine’s article (February 25) titled “Second Act” dealing with the step-down of the former Pope Benedict XVI:

The new Pope will be indebted to Benedict XVI. -- and even though he
won't be in the Sistine Chapel when the voting takes place, Benedict
is bound to influence the outcome. This sort of informal influence has
proved powerful in other cultures--particularly premodern Japan, where
retired shoguns and Emperors continued to make pivotal decisions.
Thus, just by watching from the sidelines, Ratzinger will be subtly
able to champion his conservative theological and social policies--an
über-Pope of sorts.

This statement is true. Actually many incumbent Emperors were just nominal and powerless in Japan during the Middle Ages and controlled by retired emperors behind the curtain.

We call this “informal influence“ of the retired ruler or leader including chairman of a company ‘Insei – 院政 in Japanese, and ‘Readers English Japanese Dictionary’ at hand translates ‘Insei’ to ‘rule by a retired emperor – insei.”

Although Readers Dictionary shows the word “Insei,” as if it is already adopted to English language like 'Mikado' or ‘Shogun,’ I doubt its currency as an English word.

With that said, what is the English counterpart of “Insei” in shorter form, say two words, than “rule by a cloistered emperor”?

@StJohnoftheCross: as close as that is, doesn't that refer to a non-ruler, say a regent or important civil servant unlikely to actually be such a nominal ruler, as opposed to a former ruler?
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MitchApr 1 '13 at 13:18

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@Mitch That's why it's a comment; but a former ruler is at least nominally a non-ruler. English doesn't have a direct equivalent for insei because "rule by a retired monarch" is rather rare: most cause succession by dying! However, a retired/deselected prime minister could well still be the power behind his successor's throne.
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St John of the CrossApr 1 '13 at 13:27

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The Vatican has, in fact, decreed that Benedict is to be titled "pope emeritus" or "emeritus pope". That's not terribly relevant to this question, though. What Yoichi-san seems to want is a counterpart to regency, except on the other end of a reign. The problem is, the historical English term for a former king is "dead".
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MarthaªApr 1 '13 at 14:23

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It will be very difficult, if not impossible, to come up with a satisfactory answer to this question because it is very likely that an "English counterpart of 'Insei' in shorter form, say two words," does not in fact exist; and if this is so, it is because we in the West have not really had any need for such a term, since such a phenomenon as @Yoichi Oishi describes has been absent, or very nearly so, from our history. I think that Diocletian at Spalato and Charles V at Yuste are as close as we may approach, and it is not quite certain that they actually "ruled" while in retirement.
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AnimadversorApr 2 '13 at 23:28

Hi Rajah. I don't see how this answers the question. Yoichi-san wasn't asking what Benedict will be called, but what the English term is for retired kings who advise the current king.
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MarthaªApr 1 '13 at 14:19

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The title "Pope Emeritus" was announced on February 26 and is a matter of record. Emeritus simply means "retired". This doesn't answer the question, though, which is about a rule by influence; almost a clandestine affair.
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St John of the CrossApr 1 '13 at 14:21

I think one difference is that in Europe, kings have never officially retired.
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Peter Shor Apr 1 '13 at 15:35

@PeterShor Well, Edward VIII did; and several Queens of the Netherlands have too. But constitutional monarchies have more safeguards against eminences grises than absolute monarchies.
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St John of the CrossApr 1 '13 at 15:49

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Thanks you for the comments. While I understand the reasons for the downvote, emeritus is a neutral title that conveys both the notions of being relieved of duty, yet retaining influence. Of note is that this was indeed the announced title (thanks, @StJohnoftheCross, I did not know that). The OP said in comments that insei has a sinister connotation, but emeritus does not connote that. I'm thinking éminence grise is closer. Perhaps St John of the Cross should proffer it as an answer, instead of as a comment?
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rajah9Apr 2 '13 at 13:35

A puppet is an object manipulated by a puppeteer, who could be liken to a retired Emperor or leader.To me, puppet government seems to be the object or the opposite word to 'Insei' rather than its equvalent..
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Yoichi Oishi♦Apr 1 '13 at 21:46

It follows from this definition of puppet: "one whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence" [M-W]
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GnawmeApr 1 '13 at 22:10